Although the circumstances and devastation of natural disasters can vary wildly, they all share a set of common traits. We can be feel terror, helplessness, confusion and sorrow, all within mere moments. There is no distinction between the kinds of people affected; race, gender, sexual persuasion, political beliefs; all are meaningless when Mother Nature wants to make a statement...

Earthquakes are a strange phenomenon: they can be acclamated to, but they always leave the lingering doubt in the back of one's mind as to how strong they will grow to be and what kind of damage they will leave in their wake.

This is my own personal story about surviving the earthquake of January 17, 1994, at 4:31AM